04 Aug 2012, 21:05

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We launched Google Listen through Google Labs in August 2009, to give people a way to discover and listen to podcasts. However, with Google Play, people now have access to a wider variety of podcast apps, so weve discontinued Listen.

I never thought Listen was very good but this cancellation is why more and more I avoid Google’s non-core products. They are turning into Yahoo like this. I’m tired of putting effort into products by these large corporations, that only stand a tiny chance of being maintained.

From now on I’m sticking with products by tiny companies whose very survival depends on that product. So that’s Doggcatcher or BeyondPod for podcasts.

It’s another step in moving away from generic one-size-fits-all mass-production and towards custom products that are optimal for you.